Visual display package

ABSTRACT

A visual display package is provided in which a portion of the normally cut away region of the display card is utilized in order to provide a functional region of the card. A first segment is provided having a cut-away region and a transparent plastic film adhered to the card and totally overlying the cut-away region. The plastic film is provided with an article receiving pocket and the finished display card includes an article within this region. The article is fixed in position within the article receiving pocket by the presence of a second section which is either in the form of a solid paperboard section firmly attached to the first paperboard section or a second section which is a mirror image of the first section. The second paperboard section can be provided with a transparent plastic film completely overlying the cut away section and having an article receiving pocket in order to receive a portion of the article. At least one of the first and second card sections is provided with a hinged portion formed within the cut away section and formed from material originally within the cut away section.

United States Patent 1 Faller 1 VISUAL DISPLAY PACKAGE [75] Inventor: Rudolph A. Faller, Edina, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Hoerner Waldorf Corporation, St.

Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: June 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 374,925

Primary E.\'aminerDonald F. Norton Attorney Agent, or Firm.lcrry F. Best 1 Sept. 30, 1975 [5 7 ABSTRACT A visual display package is provided in which a portion of the normally cut away region of the display card is utilized in order to provide a functional region of the card. A first segment is provided having a cutaway region and a transparent plastic film adhered to the card and totally overlying the cut-away region. The plastic film is provided with an article receiving pocket and the finished display card includes an article within this region. Thearticle is fixed in position within the article receiving pocket by the presence of a second section which is either in the form of a solid paperboard section firmly attached to the first paperboard section or a second section which is a mirror image of the first section. The second paperboard section can be provided with a transparent plastic film completely overlying the cut away section and having an article receiving pocket in order to receive a portion of the article. At least one of the first and second card sections is provided with a hinged portion formed within the cut away section and formed from material originally within the cut away section.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,908,826

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 f3 3,908,826

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,908,826

skin packages, shrink film packages, and .othenvisual display packages have, notwithstanding-the. fact that they have been around for many years, stillf failedl. to I achieve packages which can reliably bicself-standing except with certain configurations of articles. Furthermore these packages typically do notqarovide a convenient region for price marking'or the application of other indicia, except in the prime display regions, Specifically, the kinds of packages which reference-is being made to are packages sold under. the trademark Stretch Pak, a-trademark of UnionCampyand described in.U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,064,402. and 3,l85,2 95; and 3,075,329. Additionally, reference is made to blister type packages of the type described in U .S. PatmNos. 3,527,342 and 3,192,681. By way of background, reference is made in particular, to the aforenoted,;U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,295 to, Crane which describes :and claims .what is commonly referred to as astand-up package. The disclosure of the Crane patent is incorporated herein by reference thereto.-e a In this structure the article contained within the framework of the carton is positioned such that-the bottom of the article coincides with the .fold line of:- the blankwhich .will be formed into the: package, and thereby the bottomsurfaceoffthe article provides a stand for the display card. However inistructures where the height to baseratiois such that the jcardcan readily tip over, an inadequate stand-up display carton results. Although there has been a long felt: need forsome means to further facilitate the self-supportingcharacteristic of the stand up card, such a structure has not yet been commercially achieved with respect to packages of the type disclosed in UlSu'P-at. ;No. 3,185,295. U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,879 discloses in FIGS. 5; 6-.and 7,: a self-supporting display package. Aflap; is provided which forms a base below the article of merchandise which is contained within the pocket-formed inthe plastic sheet portion of the display package: In theU.S. Pat. No. 3,018,879 it is stated that the-stiff supporting sheet is folded rearwardly along the .midline of the sheet andthus the flap (34) projects forwardly to form a stand. The article of merchandise-is then. passed through the opening (35-) in the supporting sheet,;.such that itrests on the base or flap (3'4), and i'scontained within the pocket formed in thexplasticsheetu Unfortunately, the foregoing structure and niethodof manufacture, never achievedcom'mercial utilization; It

should be noted that the method ofmanufacture or assembly described in the patent; is incompatible with the known machinery for manufacturing that-classof dis- :play packages, as described in the aforenoted patents.

Unlike the U.S. Pat. No. 3,018,879 process; inthdha chinery of the prior artyth'e pocketfis fo rnie'd,and the article inserted prior to the folding-operationi 'More- ;over, as a practical matter, in actual-practice,.theflap would tend tomove away from the article in order to achievea relatively straight line relationship with the base of .the-stif f supporting material. That is, the flap can ,be overcome by use of a structure in which a portion of the normally cut-away region of the display card is, utilized in order to provide a functional region of the card. In accordance with the present invention a display card is provided. in which a first segment is provided having a cut away region and-a transparent plastic film is adhered to the card, totally overlying the cut away region. The plastic film is provided with an article receiving pocket and the finished display card includes anarticle within this region. The article is fixed in position within the article receiving pocket by the presence of a secondsection which is either in the form of a solid paperboard section firmly attached to the first paperboard section or a second section which is a mirror image of the first section. Specifically the second paperboard section can be substantially solid, that is, noncut away member or can have a cut away section which typically coincides dimensionally with the cut away section of the first cardboard section. The second cardboard section can be provided with a transparent plastic film completely overlying the cut away section and having an article receiving pocket in order to receive a portion of the article. At least one of said first and second card sections is provided with a hinged portion formed within the cut away section and formed from material originally contained within the cut away section.

DETAIL ED DE SCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION .FIG..--*5.is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 4 folded'toform a package; a

FIG; .6'is aplan viewof another modification of a blank inaccordance with the. present invention;

1 FIG. 7--is.'a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 6, folded to form a package;

' -FIG. 8 is a plan view of still another modification of a blank in accordance with the present invention; and --FIG.9 is aperspective view of the blank of FIG. 8, folded to form a package. I I

As shown. in FIG. 1 astand up display card blank 10 isprovided with an article support region 12. The article support region 12 provides a stand or base for articles having aninsufficient base-region to yield an article which-{is self-standing, and additionally serves as a region for' additional sales information. The function of the base region 12 is best understoodby a reference to FIG. 2 which shows a visual display card of the type formed from the blank 10, illustrated in FIG. 1.

The display card blank has a central window region 14, which is normally formed by totally cutting away and discarding the paperboard material in this region. Thus, the paperboard costs of the blank are virtually identical whether or not the retained region 12 is discarded or utilized.

Line 16 represents a fold line, which corresponds to the bottom line of the finished visual display card 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The base region 12 is connected to the frame section 36, of the blank 10 by means of a pair of hinges 18. The hinges must be carefully constructed because of their fragile nature and the interference which they can provide to the forming operation if not properly constructed.

For convenience, principle references to the stand up type of package will be in conjunction with articles which are right angle cylinders and in which the article is symetrically positioned with respect to the card. However, it should be fully understood that the article can be other than cylindrical in shape, need not be positioned symetrically, and in fact can be positioned solely extending from one side of the card, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

With respect to the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, the base support member is a circle having two connecting portions 18, joined to the frame section 36, at fold line 17.

These portions have to be of sufficient dimension so as to withstand the forming operation without tearing. Moreover, the hinge members 18 must permit free rotational motion of the base or platform 12 during the forming operation.

It should be understood that the lateral dimension of the window or cut away sections of the card 14, need not coincide closely to the dimensions of the article, that is, the article can be positioned within the cut awaysection so that the article gives the appearance of float ing within the card and is surrounded by transparent plastic. In this case, the hinge member can extend inwardly that is, from the frame section 66 toward the base section 62, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

If desired, the base region can be provided with a right angle or substantially right angle extension'which would project upwardly substantially flush with the side of the article. This region (region 43 in FIGS. 4 and 5, region 63 in FIGS. 6 and 7, and region 83 in FIGS. 8 and 9) could readily provide an easily visible region for price marking ingredients labeling, or other indicia.

In the structures disclosed, the base and the marking extensions (43, 63 and 83) are positioned outside of the film, considering the article to be inside the film. The base regions (12,42,62 and 82 of FIGS. 1,4,6 and 8 respectively) and/or marking regions are most preferably fused, secured, glued, or otherwise attached to the film for it to have sufficient permanency and resistance to being torn or damaged. The securing of the base and/or marking regions to the film can be performed at any time in the process as required. Heat activated glue or heat coating on the paperboard or other means can be employed.

FIG. 2 shows an article 22, held in place by a-thermoplastic film 24, which is preferably heat shrunk in order to conform to the shape of the article and to hold the article firmly in position, in package 20.

FIG. 3 shows the reverse side 36 of the package 20. The hinge section 18 can clearly be seen to connect to the frame section 36, at the fold line 17.

FIG. 4 shows a blank 40 in which two sections 46 and 56 are separated by a fold line. Each section is provided with a window 44, and 45 respectively. A fold line 47, separates a base region 42 from the section 56. An additional section 43 is provided, foldably secured to section 42, and separated by fold line 52.

As evident from FIG. 5, section 43 provides a surface which lends itself to carrying indicia, such as price marking or other information. For simplicity, the package 40 is shown without film or article, but it is apparent that the article can be symetrically positioned or positioned so as to extend more from either side 56 or 46 than from the other side. As shown in FIG. 9, the article can extend solely from one side of the package.

The section 43 must be secured to the film in some permanent manner. While it is possible to secure the film to the section 43 in the same manner and at the same time the film is secured to the blank 40, greater freedom of expansion of the film is possible during the pocket forming or shrinkback operation.

In the modification of FIG. 6, the hinge-structure is essentially reversed from the arrangement of FIG. 1. The base section 62 is secured to the hinge section 68, at fold line 67. The hinge edge 69, of hinge 68, corresponds to the hinge edge 19, of hinge 18.

The article, not shown, would leave a diameter or width at its base no greater than the distance between the hinge edge corner points 78 and 78'. The hinge corner points 78 and 78' are formed by the intersection of each of the fold lines 67 with the corresponding hinge edge 69.

The blank 60, is folded at fold line to form the package 70. The indicia section 63 is secured to the base section 62, at the fold line 72.

The frame sections 66and 76 are provided with windows 65 and 64 respectively and covered with plastic film in the same manner as described with regard to the previous blanks.

As seen in FIG. 7, the package 70 (with article and film omitted for convenience) is formed in such a manner as to provide the indicia section 63 as an extension which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the frame section 76.

The modification of FIG. 8, is similar to that of the modifications of FIG. 6, except that a one-sided package is produced, as illustrated in FIG. 9 (with article and film omitted for simplicity). The one-sided package is similar to that of FIG. 7, in that a selfstanding package is produced, however, the complex hinge structure is not required and a simple folding arrangement is used as in the modification of FIG. 5.

The fold line separates the section 86 from the windowed section 96. The fold line 97 corresponds to fold line 47 of blank 40 and separates the base section 82 from the section 86. The base section 82 and indicia section 83 are formed material normally discarded during the cutting away of the window 85. The base sec tion is folded along line 97 to form a base at substantially a right angle to the side 96 of the package 90. The indicia section.83' is folded along fold line 92 and positioned substantially parallel to the frame section 96.

What is claimed is: v

1. A visual display package, including an article within said package, comprising:

a sheet of foldable paperboard formed with a window region therethrough adapted for receiving said article;

a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window region in said paperboard sheet, said sheet of transparent material being formed with an article receiving recess within said window region;

a fold line extending across said sheet of paperboard intermediate the ends thereof and defining two sections therein;

said sheet of paperboard being folded about said article on said fold line;

means for securing said sections of said sheet of paperboard on opposite sides of said fold line into juxtaposition with one another;

an article support region of said paperboard located within said window region and hingedly secured to said sheet of paperboard at said fold line by hinge members which extend from the sides of said support region and permit rotational movement of said support region; and

said article support region being in a flush relation to the base surface of said article and formed in size to provide lateral stability to said package when placed on a supporting surface.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein said fold line is located at the middle of said sheet of paperboard.

3. The package of claim 1, including an indicia section hingedly attached along a first end of said article support region, and foldable into juxtaposition with the upright side of said article.

4. A blank made of foldable paperboard adapted to be formed into a visual display container, comprising:

a sheet of said paperboard and having a window region formed therein;

a fold line extending transversely of said sheet;

an article support region made of paperboard and positioned within said window region adjacent to said fold line;

a pair of hinge members extending from the sides of said article support region;

said sheet being notched adjacent to said fold line to permit said hinge members and said support region to be rotatably attached to said sheet along said fold line; and

a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window region in said sheet of paperboard.

5. The blank of claim 4, including an indicia section hingedly attached to a first end of said article support region, adapted to be folded up against the side of said article.

6. A blank made from foldable paperboard and adapted to be erected into a visual display container,

comprising:

a first section made of said paperboard;

a windowed section hingedly connected along a fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein adjacent to said fold line;

a base section made of said paperboard positioned in said window and hingedly connected to said first section along a line collinear with said fold line;

an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section opposite said fold line; and

a transparent sheet of material overlying at least said window in said windowed section.

7. A visual display package, including an article having a base within said package, comprising;

a sheet of paperboard;

a first section in said sheet of paperboard;

a fold line extending across one end of said first section;

a windowed section hingedly connected along said fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein adjacent to said fold line adapted for receiving said article;

a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window in said windowed section, said sheet of material being formed with an article receiving recess within said window;

said first section and said windowed section being folded about said article along said fold line;

said first section and saidwindowed section secured into juxtaposition with one another;

a base section of said paperboard located within said windowed section and hingedly connected to said first section along a line colinear with said fold line, said base section rotated into flush relationship with said base of said article and formed in size to provide lateral stability to said package when placed on a supporting surface; and

an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section opposite said fold line and adapted to lie substantially perpendicular to said base section and against the side of said article.

8. A visual display package, including an article having a base within said package, comprising:

a sheet of paperboard;

a first section of said paperboard;

a fold line extending across one end of said first section;

a windowed section hingedly connected along said fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein adjacent to said fold line and adapted for receiving said article;

a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window in said windowed section, said sheet being formed with an article receiving recess within said window;

said first section and said windowed section being folded about said article along said fold line; said first section and said windowed section secured into juxtaposition with one another;

windowed section and hingedly connected to said windowed section along a line parallel to said fold line, said base section rotated into flush relationship with said base of said article; and

an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section and adapted to lie substantially perpendicular to said base section and against the side of said article. I

9. A blank made from foldable paperboard and adapted to be erected into a visual display container, comprising:

a first section made of said paperboard;

a windowed section hingedly connected along a first fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein;

a base section made of said paperboard positioned in said window and hingedly connected to said windowed section along a second fold line parallel to said first fold line;

an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section; and a transparent sheet of material overlying at least said window in said windowed section.

a base section of said paperboard located within said I 

1. A visual display package, including an article within said package, comprising: a sheet of foldable paperboard formed with a window region therethrough adapted for receiving said article; a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window region in said paperboard sheet, said sheet of transparent material being formed with an article receiving recess within said window region; a fold line extending across said sheet of paperboard intermediate the ends thereof and defining two sections therein; said sheet of paperboard being folded about said article on said fold line; means for securing said sections of said sheet of paperboard on opposite sides of said fold line into juxtaposition with one another; an article support region of said paperboard located wiThin said window region and hingedly secured to said sheet of paperboard at said fold line by hinge members which extend from the sides of said support region and permit rotational movement of said support region; and said article support region being in a flush relation to the base surface of said article and formed in size to provide lateral stability to said package when placed on a supporting surface.
 2. The package of claim 1, wherein said fold line is located at the middle of said sheet of paperboard.
 3. The package of claim 1, including an indicia section hingedly attached along a first end of said article support region, and foldable into juxtaposition with the upright side of said article.
 4. A blank made of foldable paperboard adapted to be formed into a visual display container, comprising: a sheet of said paperboard and having a window region formed therein; a fold line extending transversely of said sheet; an article support region made of paperboard and positioned within said window region adjacent to said fold line; a pair of hinge members extending from the sides of said article support region; said sheet being notched adjacent to said fold line to permit said hinge members and said support region to be rotatably attached to said sheet along said fold line; and a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window region in said sheet of paperboard.
 5. The blank of claim 4, including an indicia section hingedly attached to a first end of said article support region, adapted to be folded up against the side of said article.
 6. A blank made from foldable paperboard and adapted to be erected into a visual display container, comprising: a first section made of said paperboard; a windowed section hingedly connected along a fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein adjacent to said fold line; a base section made of said paperboard positioned in said window and hingedly connected to said first section along a line collinear with said fold line; an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section opposite said fold line; and a transparent sheet of material overlying at least said window in said windowed section.
 7. A visual display package, including an article having a base within said package, comprising: a sheet of paperboard; a first section in said sheet of paperboard; a fold line extending across one end of said first section; a windowed section hingedly connected along said fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein adjacent to said fold line adapted for receiving said article; a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window in said windowed section, said sheet of material being formed with an article receiving recess within said window; said first section and said windowed section being folded about said article along said fold line; said first section and said windowed section secured into juxtaposition with one another; a base section of said paperboard located within said windowed section and hingedly connected to said first section along a line colinear with said fold line, said base section rotated into flush relationship with said base of said article and formed in size to provide lateral stability to said package when placed on a supporting surface; and an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section opposite said fold line and adapted to lie substantially perpendicular to said base section and against the side of said article.
 8. A visual display package, including an article having a base within said package, comprising: a sheet of paperboard; a first section of said paperboard; a fold line extending across one end of said first section; a windowed section hingedly connected along said fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therEin adjacent to said fold line and adapted for receiving said article; a sheet of transparent material overlying at least said window in said windowed section, said sheet being formed with an article receiving recess within said window; said first section and said windowed section being folded about said article along said fold line; said first section and said windowed section secured into juxtaposition with one another; a base section of said paperboard located within said windowed section and hingedly connected to said windowed section along a line parallel to said fold line, said base section rotated into flush relationship with said base of said article; and an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section and adapted to lie substantially perpendicular to said base section and against the side of said article.
 9. A blank made from foldable paperboard and adapted to be erected into a visual display container, comprising: a first section made of said paperboard; a windowed section hingedly connected along a first fold line to said first section, said windowed section having a window formed therein; a base section made of said paperboard positioned in said window and hingedly connected to said windowed section along a second fold line parallel to said first fold line; an indicia section hingedly connected to said base section; and a transparent sheet of material overlying at least said window in said windowed section. 